Skin diseases spread among Palestinian children in Gaza
Internally displaced Palestinian children living in a school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), walk across a wet courtyard following overnight rainstorms in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on November 15, 2023, (Photo by Said Khatib via AFP)
Health officials in Gaza report a significant rise in skin diseases, which they attribute to conditions in overcrowded tent camps. These camps accommodate hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians.
The summer heat and compromised sanitation, leading to pools of open sewage, contribute to the issue. The ongoing conflict over the past ten months has further affected living conditions.
Health statistics
The dermatology wing at Nasser Hospital in central Gaza is managing numerous cases of skin disease, as children with red and white spots on their faces, necks, and chests, and those with rashes and sores from scratching, seek treatment.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are over 103,000 cases of lice and scabies and 65,000 cases of skin rashes in Gaza. In the population of approximately 2.3 million, more than 1 million cases of acute respiratory infections have been recorded since the conflict began.
Additionally, more than half a million cases of acute diarrhea and over 100,000 cases of jaundice have been reported, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The situation is worsening in Gaza highlighting the need for international support to improve living conditions and provide medical assistance.
